School bonds: Y-C loses, Sheridan and Willamina win

Bond issues passed handily in the Sheridan School District and narrowly in the Willamina School District in Tuesday night balloting in Yamhill and Polk counties.

However, voters in the Yamhill-Carlton School District turned back a strong pro-school campaign 1,305 to 1,122 or 53.8 percent to 46.2 percent.

In Sheridan, a $2.1 million bond prevailed 623 to 377 in Yamhill County and 45 to 39 in Polk, making the combined count 668 to 416 or 61.6 percent to 38.4.

In Willamina, a $2 million bond trailed in Yamhill County 344-331, but ran up a 25-vote margin in Polk to prevail overall 574 to 562 or 50.5 percent to 49.5. There are still a handful of ballots subject to counting in the two counties, but not enough from the district to affect the outcome.

Polk County released its final report at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, showing a 31.9 percent turnout. Yamhill County released its final report at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, showing a 41.4 percent turnout.

The Sheridan bond will run six years. It wil l cost the owner of a house valued at $100,000 for tax purposes — about 60 percent of true market value — $102 a year.

Refinancing of the 2003 Faulconer-Chapman construction bond figures to save district taxpayers $1.02 per $1,000 in assessed valuation in coming years. So the overall rate will remain $3.24, keeping the overall obligation on that house $324.

The money will fund replacement of the high school's aging HVAC and plumbing systems and energy-wasting single-pane windows. The heating system will be replaced in the old Falconer-Chapman gym and safety and technology upgrades will be made throughout the district.

The Willamina bond is limited to 10 years. It is designed to fund replacement of aging modulars, completion of a vocational trades shop and installation of a fire suppression system to address a serious fire flow shortfall.

If its lead stands, the Willamina bond will cost 64 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, costing the owner of a house valued at $100,000 for tax purposes — about 60 percent of its true market value — $64 a year.

Yamhill-Carlton was seeking approval of a 30-year, $23 million bond. It would have cost taxpayes $2.29 per $1,000.

Elsewhere in the Yamhill Valley:

A Springbrook Road annexation passed 2,380 to 1,182 or 66.8 percent to 32.8 percent in Newberg.

In the West Valley community of Sheridan, a charter ammendment vote was defeated 320 to 306 or 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent. Though the margin is narrow, not enough stray votes remain outstanding to affect the result.